Overeating and Obesity in Islam

Messenger of Allah (S) said:

“No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Aadam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.”

[Ahmad, At-Tirmidhee, An-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah - hadeeth saheeh.]

We must eat to satisfy our hunger but not till we feel heavy. Ibn Masaweh, a Muslim doctor, said after reading this hadeeth: “If the people only used these words, they would avoid all diseases and maladies and the clinics and pharmacies would be idle.

Whoever takes control of his stomach, he gets control of all good deeds!

Prophet (s) said “The believer eats with one stomach while the disbeliever eats with seven stomachs.” (Bukhari) Meaning: A muslim must eat with the manners of Islam and in moderation.

Overeating weighs a person down, makes him lazy and stops him from achieving his goals. Imam Ash-Shaafi’ee said:

“I have not filled myself in sixteen years because filling oneself makes the body heavy, removes clear understanding, induces sleep and makes one weak for worship.”

 Don't be controlled by your lust for food

Prophet (S) said "My greatest fear for you is the appetites of transgression with regard to your stomachs and your private parts and the inclination which lead astray.”
[Ahmad, saheeh]

A Muslim should not merely follow his lusts and appetites. Allaah says:

Quran 19: 59-60 “Then, they were followed by generations who neglected the prayer and followed their lusts. They will encounter a pit of fire except for those who repent…”

Remember the test of Prophet Adam a.s.

Al-Hasan Al-Basree said: “The test of Aadam a.s. was food and it is your test until Qiyamah.”

Remember the story of Aadam a.s. who was forbidden from eating the fruit of a tree. This was his test. Similarly, it is a test for all of us to control our lust for food, so that our desires do not take control over us and we are not distracted from our goal of life, which is: Defeating our Nafs (lusts, desires) and doing good deeds to please Allah and attain Paradise.

Overeating that leads to obesity is forbidden in Islam

Quran 2:195 “Do not cast yourselves into destruction by your own hands.”

Obesity has serious consequences: Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, some cancers and other conditions.